21-Year-Old girl arrested for arms smuggling
By Ologeh Joseph Chibu
A 21-year old lady, Fatima Salisu has been arrested for arms smuggling.
She was caught in Nassarawa, one of the Northern states plaqued by terrorism.
The Nasarawa State Police Command has announced plans to arraign the 21-year-old suspect, who was arrested with 481 rounds of ammunition in the Azuba area of Lafia, the state capital.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Rahman Nansel, confirmed the development during a telephone conversation with our correspondent on Thursday.
Nansel disclosed that the suspect, a native of Funtua town in Katsina State, was intercepted while allegedly transporting the ammunition to suspected criminal elements in Katsina. The operation, he noted, was the result of precise intelligence gathering and swift action by the police.
“In a bold and precise security operation, operatives of the Nasarawa State Police Command have arrested a 21-year-old female suspected arms trafficker in a mission that cut across key local government areas,” Nansel said.
He added, “The operation was launched following credible intelligence. The suspect, Fatima Salisu, a native of Funtua town in Katsina State, was intercepted at the Azuba area of Lafia while allegedly transporting a deadly haul of ammunition through Keana and Doma LGAs, en route to deliver the consignment to criminal elements in Katsina.”
According to Nansel, the operation, led by the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit on the directive of Commissioner of Police Shetima Mohammed, resulted in the recovery of a significant cache of ammunition.
“Acting swiftly on the intelligence tip-off, Commissioner of Police, Shetima Mohammed, ordered the immediate deployment of the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit. The team acted with precision, leading to the arrest of the suspect and the recovery of 400 rounds of 7.62x39mm ammunition and 81 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition,” he stated.
Ongoing Investigation
In a follow-up update, Nansel noted that the suspect is currently in custody, undergoing rigorous interrogation as investigators work to trace the broader arms-trafficking network and its potential links to armed banditry and terrorism.
“The suspect is now in custody and undergoing rigorous interrogation as investigators work to dismantle the arms-trafficking network and trace its possible links to armed banditry and terrorism,” he said.
He added, “She will be arraigned in court as soon as the investigation is concluded. This arrest marks a significant win in the ongoing fight against illegal arms proliferation and criminality in the region.”
This development highlights the ongoing efforts of the Nasarawa State Police Command to combat the trafficking of illegal arms and secure the region against criminal activities.
